Top 10 Best SpongeBob SquarePants Seasons

Few animated shows have had the staying power and cultural influence of SpongeBob SquarePants. Since its debut in 1999, the series has entertained generations of fans with its quirky humor, unforgettable characters, and wildly imaginative storytelling. From the golden era of classic episodes to later seasons that took the show in new directions, every fan has their own opinion on when SpongeBob was at its best.

Maybe you love the early seasons for their sharp writing and timeless jokes, or perhaps you appreciate some of the newer seasons for their fresh take on Bikini Bottom's beloved residents. No matter what your preference is, your vote can help determine which seasons rise to the top.
The Top Ten
Season 2 This season introduced fan-favorite episodes like "Band Geeks," where Squidward conducts a marching band for the Bubble Bowl. Other notable episodes include "The Secret Box," in which Patrick keeps a mysterious possession, and "Graveyard Shift," which features the famous "Hash-Slinging Slasher" story. It originally aired from 2000 to 2003.

This is by far my favorite season! All of the episodes are well written and hilarious. Highlights include Dying for Pie, Gary Takes a Bath, Bubble Buddy, Survival of the Idiots, Grandma's Kisses, Band Geeks, and just about every episode aired. The only seasons I feel that come very close to comparing to this are Seasons 3 and 1.

If you haven't watched a single episode, then you must be crazy, because this is Nickelodeon at the height of their "golden age," along with one of the closing chapters of the cartoon renaissance of the 90s and early 00s.

Season 3 Memorable episodes from this season include "Chocolate with Nuts," where SpongeBob and Patrick try to sell chocolate bars, and "The Camping Episode," which features the song "The Campfire Song Song." The season also contains "Krusty Krab Training Video," a parody of corporate training films. It aired from 2001 to 2004.

Season 3 was phenomenal. I mean that literally. Everyone says they prefer Season 2 over Season 3. I can understand why people think that, but Season 3 had more creative episodes. It had funnier and better episodes. This is just my opinion.

Yes, in the second season we got Band Geeks, Sailor Mouth, Frankendoodle, Graveyard Shift, Shanghaied, and Christmas Who? I feel like those episodes I just listed were the best of the best of the second season.

Think about Season 3. It had fantastic episodes: The Camping Episode, Chocolate with Nuts, Just One Bite, Club SpongeBob, Nasty Patty, Idiot Box, Snowball Effect, No Weenies Allowed, Wet Painters, and the Krusty Krab Training Video. And so much more. Season 3 was definitely the most nostalgic for me. It was so good. For me, it was the best pre-movie season.

But if you look at the criteria and creative, laughable, entertaining episodes, Season 3 would be all that. I love all seasons except Season 5-7. It's hard to pick between Season 2 and Season 3 at some points. They're both my favorite seasons. Nothing can beat Seasons 1-3.

Season 1 This season marked the debut of SpongeBob SquarePants and introduced characters like Squidward, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs. Standout episodes include "Pizza Delivery," where SpongeBob and Squidward embark on a difficult journey to deliver a pizza, and "Help Wanted," the very first episode featuring SpongeBob getting his job at the Krusty Krab. It originally aired from 1999 to 2001.

This season was my favorite. Back when Stephen Hillenburg was still on the show and back when the comedy was hilarious. I'm still laughing at some of the jokes many years later. Plus, the episodes were more creative and well thought out. I also like the old school animation and voice acting feel of season 1.

Season 2 is practically the same, and season 3 is when they started improving the animation more. But this season will always remain in my heart as my favorite season from any cartoon. I miss my childhood. Half of it was watching this show.

Season 4 Key episodes from this season include "Dunces and Dragons," a medieval-themed adventure, and "Krusty Towers," which sees Mr. Krabs turning the Krusty Krab into a hotel. The season also features "Have You Seen This Snail?" known for the song "Gary Come Home." It aired from 2005 to 2007.

Season 4 is great. It contains both good and bad episodes, but there are mostly good ones, including Have You Seen This Snail?, Krusty Towers, Best Day Ever, Fear of a Krabby Patty, and lots more. The bad episodes are All That Glitters and Squidwood. SpongeBob is really funny in this season, but I keep hearing he is the most funny in the third season. However, SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Sandy are the four best characters, including Plankton.

The reason I like Best Day Ever is because of the song and transcript. It's awesome. Krusty Towers is even better because of both SpongeBob and Squidward. They were both so funny. I recommend this episode to everyone who likes SpongeBob.

Season 1 was not good at all, and that's because of the graphics. In Season 2, the graphics improved a bit, and in the third season, it showed SpongeBob in his best quality. Season 4 is a mix between late second season and late third season, which has good graphics. Seasons 5 and 9 are both great seasons too. Season 9 was the beginning where SpongeBob started getting better (he actually started doing well again in Season 8).

All the seasons of SpongeBob are great except for Seasons 1, 6, and 7. Here are my top 5 favorite characters:

1. SpongeBob
2. Patrick
3. Squidward
4. Sandy
5. Plankton

My favorite season is either Season 3 or 4. But anyway, Season 4 of SpongeBob should be number 2 or 3.

Season 9 This season includes "SpongeBob, You're Fired," which follows SpongeBob as he searches for a new job after being dismissed from the Krusty Krab. Another notable episode is "It Came from Goo Lagoon," featuring a mysterious goo bubble threatening Bikini Bottom. The season aired from 2012 to 2017.

I would vote for Seasons 1-3 and early Season 4 any day over this, but I think Nickelodeon has taken the right steps to bringing SpongeBob back. The first episodes were horrible, like Squid Baby and Little Yellow Book, but the newer ones from 2015 and 2016 were better with the addition of more Plankton-themed episodes and more minor character importance (like the episodes Mall Girl Pearl and Larry's Gym). The new episodes have some originality and are starting to appeal to kids and teens/adult fans again.

It's not making suicide jokes (like Are You Happy Now?) or filling episodes with unnecessary content to take up time like in Seasons 6-7. The episodes have plots again, and the quality of animation has even increased. So now, my favorite seasons are 1, 2, 3, part of 4, 9, and 10, since the two episodes that Season 10 had so far (Whirly Brains, MermaidPants) were also pretty good. If Nickelodeon keeps these types of episodes coming, it will please everyone.

Season 5 Among the notable episodes are "Friend or Foe," which explores the history of Mr. Krabs and Plankton's rivalry, and "Atlantis SquarePantis," a TV movie special. The season also features "20,000 Patties Under the Sea," where SpongeBob and Patrick attempt an underwater fast food business. It originally aired from 2007 to 2009.

This season was pretty good! Yeah, it wasn't perfect, but still pretty good. The best episodes in this season were BlackJack, Friend or Foe, The Original Frycook, Spy Buddies, Roller Cowards, Krabs à la Mode, 20,000 Patties Under the Sea, Sing a Song of Patrick, Inmates of Summer, Pest of the West, The Two Faces of Squidward, and The Battle of Bikini Bottom.

Bad episodes were SpongeHenge, Waiting, Night Light, Fungus Among Us, Banned in Bikini Bottom, Breath of a Fresh Squidward, and To Love a Patty. The rest of the episodes were in the middle. Overall, though, I'd give this season an 8/10 (Seasons 1-3 are 10/10, Seasons 4 and 8 are 9/10, Seasons 6, 10, and 9 are 7/10, Season 7 is a 5/10, and all the new seasons are 1/10).

Season 8 Standout episodes include "Frozen Face-Off," where the characters race across a frozen landscape, and "Hello Bikini Bottom!," which follows SpongeBob and Squidward as they attempt to start a band. The season also features "Plankton's Good Eye," in which Plankton tries to be a better person after growing a second eye. It originally aired from 2011 to 2012.

After the horrible Season 7, I thought that SpongeBob would forever be bad... But then this season came out, and it was GREAT. The best episodes this season are A Friendly Game, Sentimental Sponge, Frozen Face-Off, Sweet and Sour Squid, The Googly Artiste, A SquarePants Family Vacation, Ghoul Fools, Mermaid Man Begins, The Way of the Sponge, It's a SpongeBob Christmas, Super Evil Aquatic Villain Team Up is Go, and Hello Bikini Bottom.

All the other episodes are still good (except for Demolition Doofus, Face Freeze, Barnacle Face, Pet Sitter Pat, and Oral Report, which are all bad episodes).

Season 6 Notable episodes include "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One," where SpongeBob and friends get stranded on an island, and "Sand Castles in the Sand," featuring an intense sandcastle war. This season also includes "House Fancy," known for its controversial toenail scene. It aired from 2008 to 2010.

This season isn't as bad as people think. Sure, it had bad episodes, such as "Clash of Triton," "Cephalopod Lodge," "Choir Boys," "Giant Squidward," "Sun Bleached," "The Splinter," "Slide Whistle Stooges," "Gullible Pants," and "Squid's Visit." But it did have good episodes!

The good episodes were "Sand Castles in the Sand," "Toy Store of Doom," "Krabby Road," "A Life in a Day," "Single Cell Anniversary," "House Fancy" (minus the toenail scene), "Gone," "Chum Bucket Supreme," "Patty Caper," and "The Krabby Kronicle." All the other episodes in this season are just "meh" to me.

Season 10 This season features "Mimic Madness," in which SpongeBob becomes obsessed with imitating others, and "Feral Friends," where a strange event transforms the characters into wild versions of themselves. Another notable episode is "The Incredible Shrinking Sponge," which follows SpongeBob shrinking due to an accident. It aired in 2017.

So far, this season is actually not half bad. It's only had one episode I didn't like: "Snooze You Lose," due to just how weird and freaky it is, but even then I'd still just consider it a "meh" episode. We've already gotten really good episodes compared to other modern SpongeBob seasons like "Plankton Retires," "Burst Your Bubble," "Life Insurance," and "Mermaid Pants." These four episodes are all very good, especially compared to other modern seasons.

Many of the infamously bad writers are gone (Zeus Cervas, Casey Alexander), while Stephen Hillenburg is back as the supervising producer. They also hired some writers from "Ren & Stimpy," and you can definitely tell from episodes like "Whirly Brains" and "Snooze You Lose." Another thing that probably came with Stephen coming back is that it seems to kind of have a feel of Season 3, and many old recognizable characters (Bubble Bass, the fish who scammed SpongeBob & Patrick in the chocolate episode, etc.) can be seen as background fish in almost every episode, which is neat.

It also feels more cartoony and fast-paced, but that's honestly a good thing because it's a cartoon. This season definitely fixed problems from previous seasons, although they still do a lot of the overly detailed face gags. I also find the jokes a lot funnier than in previous seasons.

Overall, I'd say that so far Season 10 is a pretty good improvement and is at least better than Season 5. This is probably the fifth best season, and it could get better or worse. I'd rate it a 7/10 (S5 being a 6, S4 being an 8, and S1-3 being a 10).

Season 11 Episodes from this season include "Goons on the Moon," which features Sandy leading a mission to space, and "Karen's Virus," where Plankton's computer wife is infected with a dangerous virus. Another notable episode is "The Night Patty," where SpongeBob works the night shift at the Krusty Krab under eerie conditions. It aired from 2017 to 2018.

I really like how they're bringing back older characters like Bubble Bass, Doodlebob, and Long, Tan, and Handsome (Pearl's ex-boyfriend). I also like the vibe of this season. The animation isn't nearly as stiff as in seasons before the second movie, and the plots of the episodes are very creative. Plus, SpongeBob doesn't have that annoying high pitched voice anymore. It's gradually reverting to the way it was in Season 2. This should be at number 4 at least, behind seasons 1, 3, and 2.

I enjoyed Spot Returns! It's basically Pet or Pests done right. The Check-Up was a meh episode for me, though. Spin the Bottle was good and at least something unique to the Plankton steals the Krabby Patty formula episodes.

I also can't wait for The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom stop-motion episode and Man Ray Returns (the sequel to Mermaid Pants). I think Season 11 will be as good as Seasons 9B-10, if not better.

The Newcomers

? Season 14
? Season 13 Episodes from this season include "Goofy Scoopers," where SpongeBob and Patrick try to join a legendary ice cream group, and "Big Bad Bubble Bass," in which Bubble Bass takes on the role of a classic storybook villain. Another notable episode is "The Tidal Zone," a crossover special parodying "The Twilight Zone." The season premiered in 2020.

This season just started not long ago, and I just gotta say, it's gotten off to a really great start.

The Contenders
Season 7 Notable episodes include "The Great Patty Caper," a mystery-themed episode involving a missing secret formula, and "That Sinking Feeling," where SpongeBob and Patrick dig tunnels under Bikini Bottom. The season also features "The Abrasive Side," in which SpongeBob uses an abrasive personality to stand up for himself. It aired from 2009 to 2011.

Everyone's saying, Why is it here? But it kind of has to be. Don't get me wrong, this season isn't great, but it is in last place. It's here because it is a season of SpongeBob!

Like Season 7, mostly awful, with a couple of shining gems. Unfortunately, this season probably has the least amount of really good episodes.

If you watched the episode "I'm Dancing," you know what I'm talking about.

Season 12 This season includes "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout," a special episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary, and "Gary & Spot," where SpongeBob's pet snail bonds with Plankton's pet amoeba. Another notable episode is "Plankton's Old Chum," which follows Plankton's scheme involving expired chum. It originally aired from 2018 to 2020.

This season can be ranked among the best SpongeBob seasons ever! I also heard they got the original writer back.

This season really plays a part in the improvement of SpongeBob. Why isn't it above Season 7, that monstrosity?

Really good actually. I don't get why people hate on this one.

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